The 17 Emotional Stages Of Painting Your Nails, Because How The Heck Do They Chip So Quickly?!

I’ve always held my nails to extremely high standards. When I was nine, I got in a fight with my choir director who made me take off my blue polish before our annual concert (which never made since to me, so it was definitely worth the battle.) Three years later, I had to go to the salon every six week to touch up my fake nails and make sure the tips were perfect. Now? I refuse to leave the house unless my shortly clipped nails are coated with coral polish. It's a lifestyle.

I’m not the only one, though. From gel polish to crazy complicated Pinterest nail art, it’s become a beauty obsession over the past few years. And why not? It’s a cool way to show off your style that will (theoretically) last all week.

But, I’ll be the first to admit that painting my nails is a complete struggle. Like, an actual royal pain in my butt. You have to choose a color, apply enough coats that it won’t chip throughout the week, and sit there and wait for it to dry. And if you accidentally get wet polish on and stain your clothes? Oh, honey.

Yeah, it’s an annoying process that every Essie addict has to go through. Here’s a walk through of the entire emotional roller coaster of an at-home mani, because you need something to read while your nails dry.